Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-04-16
CHINESE IN LOS ANGELES.


boothing Booth. ttc-
To the Editor of the Republic:
Almost every town of any size on the Pa
ciic coa>; has its Chinese quarter. BY
many this fact is greatly deplored. The
preacher. the journalist. and the politician
all->et forth in darkest hue the evils
that the Mongolian element entails on this
country Maybe they art right. Its hardly
possible that three such potent factors IN
the worlds progress should be wrong. At
all events We will not attempt the iiercu-
lean task of disproving their statements.
But if one is 50 inclined he can find MANY
things to interest and instruct him within
the precincts occupied by the almond, yed
f. reign-r. Not long since your correspond
ent spent an evening among the Chinese vi
Los Angeles. intent upon being entertained
rather than disgusted. And he >ucceeded
In the first place. the Chinese occupy
few blocks of old adobe buildings near the
center Of the city. And they do occupy
them. too. | do not think there j. any
room to let" in Chinatown; but elsewhere
in the city the words rooms Ia let have
50 frequently struck the rrtina of my eye.
that | think an eSStied image of them has
been formed there. The buildings in
which the Chinese dwell are one story high
and perhaps cover an area equal 10 three
squares. Within these limits are about
1000 China men and few China women.
Numerous Thick" Well. yes. rather
Their business street bears the euphoniOus
name of Niger alley. On il may be- found
boot and shoe stores, barber shops. China
men never shave themselves drug stores.
doctors Offices, etc. in all Of which the
things are seen in these various places.
But We have space to note one only y-the
physician diagnosing disease The patient.
an American. was seated beside the doctor
in front Of table on which was a little
pillow. pn this the patients hand was
laid, palm upward. The Chinese healer
then placed his right hand on the pulse and
with his left hand held the fingers of the
sick mans hand. He lowered his head.
closed his eyes and sat motionleSS for Sey-
eral minutes. He went through the same
motions with the other hand. There was
more foolery yet, il could remember il.
After all of which. he described
all the patients aches from an ingrown toe
nail 10 the heart ache he experienced be
cause he did not draw prize in Louisiana
State lottery.
We were in Chinatown during the ceIe-
The houses were gaily illuminated with
Chinese lantens: the aIr was reyerberating
with the noise of Chinese fire-crackers aud
redolent with Chinese smoke, towit:
Opium. fobacro and sandal wood smoke.
john" was keeping open house. Manv
Americans we're calling on him and all
seemed welcome. The Cinnamon had little
red tickets with characters written on
them. which they gave 10 their visitors. |
asked rather intelligent Chnamau what
the New Years card. had received. said
lie replied. 1T says, All 'ee same zee. how
de do and good bye. All Sing"
In almost every apartment could be seen
little shrines with hideous little images and
before them lighted candles and incense
burning in urns. The candles are to ena-
bic the spirits or gods 10 see the offerings.
which are placed before the shrine and rou-
-St of cakes, candies. fruits and flowers.
The Chinese believe that the gods partake
nf the essence of these offerings and
leave the substance" which the China
men Use after the festival is over
The Christian Chinese. and there are
quite a number of them in the city. received
calls in American style At the chapel. and
served their visitors with lemonade, ice
cream and cake. free TO all who called
We visited the Chinese thcater and saw
historic art personihed and stalking about
with large stalks-and a queue hanging
down his back. 1t WAS hne. have pom
dered over the performance a great deal
since. but am still unable 10 say whether
II was ali opera or play. think il was
however. | have seen Booth and Barrett /
Joe jefferson and Nat Goodwin. but never
before saw acting like that True. did
not understand the plot nor the dialogue.
but do know that the actors had a Ii ght;
and count myself happy 10 have been
able 10 discern fight in a foreign tongue.
The opera house. or play house. would pass
for a right respectable barn. The seats are
boards, and the enc had was not made out
of soft wood, either. In the gallery are
stalls. or private boxes. In these the women
sit. The men occupy the dress-circe and
parquette. The stage is elevated three pr
four feet at one end of the building. There
is 10 scenery. The stage is connected with
the dressing room. behind il. by two doors
one for entrance and one for exit.
Between the two doors the orchestra sits
and discourseS sweet strains of music
(which would have been mere acceptable
il strained" morel. The musical instru-
ments were peculiar. The one that ap-
preached nearest to violin was a two
stringed affair that looked like croQuet
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s....rnsJ 10 me fha, the attention of the An